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James "Jym" Brittain Instructor, College of Education
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About Me I have been a fan of computer technology since I first laid hands on a microcomputer back in 1981. Yes, I realize that dates me. Especially when I confess I was a mere high school student at the time. Luckily I have been able to meld a career out of technology and education. I have to admit, looking backover my notes and journals from the time, I never predicted I would end up here on this stage of my journey. Life takes funny turns. Lean into the centrifugal force and you'll come out the other end in one piece.I am a former Michiganian, Louisianan, Floridian, and Massachusettian. This is not my first stay in Oklahoma. I moved to Oklahoma in 1991 after the health care company I worked for failed to win a state contract and underwent downsizing. I lived near Stillwater while I finished a BS Ed. degree. Later, I lived in Bristow while I taught in nearby high schools. I had the privilege of being THE high school science teacher in rural Oklahoma, first in Boynton-Moton and then in Boley, OK. After finishing a MS in Curriculum and Development from OSU in 2000 I moved back to Michigan to advance my career as a budding instructional designer and adjunct associate professor at a private university in Michigan. I taught two graduate level courses, Technology in the Schools and Multimedia Applications for Educators. I was able to advance my career again when I accepted a position in Massachusetts as the Director of Distance Learning at a community college. My career train reached its latest destination when I relocated back to Oklahoma, this time at NSU. That's my professional information in a nutshell. Academically, I am working on an Ed.D in College Teaching through Oklahoma State University. Civically, I am active in the Tahlequah Kiwanis, and I moderate the Tahlequah Freecycle group. Personally, I am blessed to be father to a healthy boy who has a thirst for knowledge and understanding that I have never encountered before. Son, brother, friend, son in law, uncle and father are roles that I happily wear. Speaking of happy, exploring new computing tools, my son, canoeing,politics, camping, hiking, home brewing, my son, hunting (more like supporting state sponsored conservation through a voluntary add on tax so I can get dressed up in orange, walk around the wilderness and not kill anything), making pizza, bicycling, playing with my son, maintaining a number of websites, my son and learning to play the bagpipes are among my hobbies. Not necessarily in that order. About the name Jym... legally my name is James. Since Jym is a nickname I can spell it anyway I choose. How did I choose Jym? In 6th grade we either had a lunatic for a principal or one that was trying to get a teacher to retire. He placed 4 boys named James in the same classroom. This teacher, in order to protect her sanity I assume, asked us the first day of class how wewould like to be addressed. This was IT! This was my opportunity to shed the dreaded family nickname that ended in -my! This was also my first realization that I could choose my own path, my own identity. After a few days of thought and my parents vetoing my first choice -Jimi I settled on Jym. Should I ever have the opportunity to sup with the President of the US, the Pope or royalty then perhaps I'll drag the name James out of the closet, dust it off and wear it for a few hours. |
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